Gray Media Beats Guidance With Strong Third Quarter Financial Results

ATLANTA, Nov. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Media, Inc. (“Gray,” “Gray Media,” “we,” “us” or “our”) (NYSE: GTN) today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. We are pleased to report that our total revenue, core advertising revenue, retransmission revenue, and political advertising revenue all were at or exceeded the high-end of our previously issued guidance ranges for the quarter. In addition, our expenses were below the low-end of our guidance ranges. The quarter also included the announcements of a historic station swap and three additional planned acquisitions of several leading television stations, as well as the multi-year renewal of our affiliation agreements with the FOX network. During the third quarter, we capitalized on strong market conditions by executing two separate debt market transactions that strengthened our balance sheet and extended our debt maturities thereby increasing our financial flexibility. We look forward to continuing to grow the company with improving operational and strategic initiatives bolstered by our successful execution of these and other achievements during the third quarter.

Summary of Third Quarter Results:

Operating Highlights:

• Total revenue in the third quarter of 2025 of $749 million was at the high end of our previously issued guidance of $750 million.
• Core advertising revenue in the third quarter of 2025 was $355 million, at the high end of our guidance and reflecting solid quarter-over-quarter performance considering the third quarter of 2024 included $16 million of core advertising revenue associated with the broadcast of the Summer Olympics.
• Retransmission consent revenue in the third quarter of 2025 was $346 million, exceeding by $1 million our previously issued high side guidance of $345 million. The decline of Retransmission consent revenue less Network affiliation fees from the third quarter of 2025 compared to the prior year period was primarily attributable to the transition of WANF, in Atlanta, to an independent station.
• Political advertising revenue in the third quarter of 2025 was $8 million, exceeding by $1 million our previously issued high side guidance of $7 million and reflective of the off-year of the two-year political advertising cycle.
• Broadcast operating expenses (before depreciation, amortization, impairment and (gain) loss on disposal of assets) in the third quarter of 2025 of $542 million were significantly below our guidance range reflecting the ongoing realization of our 2024 cost actions and our continued focus on cost containment. Our network affiliation fees of $214 million were in line with our previously issued guidance of $213 million to $215 million.
• On August 16, 2025, we transitioned WANF in Atlanta to an independent station from its former status as a CBS affiliate. WANF’s transition has met our expectations, and we look forward to continuing to expand our local news and other local content offerings, including live local sports programming.
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $23 million in the third quarter of 2025, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $83 million in the third quarter of 2024, due primarily to the cyclical decrease in political advertising.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $162 million in the third quarter of 2025.

Other Key Metrics:

• Refinancing Activities. During the third quarter of 2025, we completed the following transactions that enhanced our liquidity, maturity profile and our first lien leverage level, providing increased financial flexibility:
  • We amended our Senior Credit Agreement to increase the availability under our Revolving Credit Facility by $50 million to $750 million and extended the term of those commitments to December 1, 2028.
  • We issued $900 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.625% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2032. The proceeds of this issuance, together with $50 million from our Revolving Credit facility were used to: (i) redeem all of our outstanding 7.0% senior notes due 2027 at par; (ii) to repay $403 million of our 2024 Term Loan (due June 2029) under our Senior Credit Agreement; and (iii) pay transaction expenses incurred in connection with the offering.
  • We issued $775 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2033. Proceeds were used to: (i) repay $630 million of our 2021 Term Loan (due December 2028); (ii) $80 million of our 2024 Term Loan (due June 2029), (iii) repay all $50 million then outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility; and (iv) pay transaction fees and expenses incurred in connection with the offering.
  • These transactions addressed all material debt maturities and amortization payments until December 2028.
• As of September 30, 2025, calculated as set forth in our Senior Credit Agreement, our First Lien Leverage Ratio, Secured Leverage Ratio and Leverage Ratio, each net of $182 million of cash, were 2.72 to 1.00, 3.66 to 1.00 and 5.77 to 1.00, respectively.
• As of September 30, 2025, we had $742 million of borrowing availability under our $750 million Revolving Credit Facility (reflecting only certain outstanding, undrawn letters of credit) and our $400 million AR Facility was fully drawn.
• Non-cash stock-based compensation was $5 million during each of the third quarters of 2025 and 2024.

Income Taxes

During the 2025 nine-month period, we made $39 million of federal and state income tax payments. We currently expect that we will not be required to make any material income tax payments for the remainder of 2025.

Pending Acquisitions and Divestitures

During the three months ended September 30, 2025, we entered into separate agreements involving television station acquisitions and divestitures with The E.W. Scripps Company (“Scripps”), Sagamore Hill Broadcasting, Inc. (“SGH”), Block Communications, Inc. (“BCI”) and Allen Media Group, Inc. (“AMG”). As a result, we expect to enter six new markets with the local news station that was ranked #1 in all-day ratings in the respective markets in 2024 according to Comscore. In addition, these transactions when closed will create 11 new full-power “duopolies” of stations affiliated with a “Big Four” network. In all of these markets, we expect to leverage our news, sales, and sports strategies for the benefit of the local communities and the public interest.

Each of these transactions also furthers our commitment to pursuing tuck-in and duopoly-creating transactions in a prudent manner. After completing all four transactions, we expect to add strong assets that will be cash flow accretive and therefore will contribute to our efforts to improve the company’s balance sheet.

The parties to these transactions are currently working to secure regulatory approvals, including certain waivers, and other customary approvals; however, we can provide no assurance that we will receive the necessary regulatory approvals, or that the transactions will close, on the timelines currently contemplated or at all. We expect to fund the closing of these acquisitions with cash on hand and/or borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility. The stations to be acquired and divested under each agreement are as follows:

Guidance for the Three Months and Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2025

Based on our current forecasts for the quarter ending December 31, 2025, we anticipate the following key financial results, as outlined below in approximate ranges and as compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2024, as well as certain currently anticipated full-year financial results. Our guidance reflects an expected decrease of retransmission consent revenue less network affiliation fees in the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to the prior year period, primarily attributable to the transition of WANF to an independent station. As always, guidance may change in the future based on several factors and therefore may not reflect actual results:

The Company

We are a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets serving 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 37 percent of US television households. The portfolio includes 78 markets with the top-rated television station and 99 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station, as well as the largest Telemundo Affiliate group with 44 markets. We also own Gray Digital Media, a full-service digital agency offering national and local clients digital marketing strategies with the most advanced digital products and services. Our additional media properties include video production companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, and studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. 

Cautionary Statements for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on our current expectations and reflect various estimates and assumptions by us. These statements are statements other than those of historical fact and may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “implied,” “assume” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond our control, include: estimates of future revenue, future expenses, future capital expenditures, future income tax payments, completion of future transactions and other future events. We are subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in our quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections contained therein, which reports are made publicly available via our website, www.graymedia.com. Any forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. This press release reflects management’s views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Gray undertakes no obligation to update or revise any information contained in this press release beyond the published date, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information about certain potential factors that could affect our business and financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements are included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and may be contained in reports subsequently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.

Conference Call Information:

We will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, on Friday, November 7, 2025. The call will begin at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. The live dial-in number is 1 (800) 715-9871, conference ID 3663076. The call will be live and available for replay at www.graymedia.com. A replay of the conference call will be available at 1 (800) 770-2030, Passcode: 3663076 until December 5, 2025.

Gray Contacts

Web site: www.graymedia.com

Hilton H. Howell, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, (404) 266-5513

Pat LaPlatney, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, (334) 206-1400

Jeffrey R. Gignac, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (404) 504-9828

Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, (404) 266-8333

In addition to results prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), this earnings release discusses “Adjusted EBITDA” a non-GAAP performance measure that management uses to evaluate the performance of the business. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income (loss), adjusted for income tax expense (benefit), interest expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash stock-based compensation costs, non-cash 401(k) expense, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, impairment of investments, loss (gain) on asset disposals and certain other miscellaneous items. We consider Adjusted EBITDA to be an indicator of our operating performance.

In addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, “Leverage Ratio Denominator” is a metric that management uses to calculate our compliance with our financial covenants in our indebtedness agreements. This metric is calculated as specified in our Senior Credit Agreement and is a significant measure that represents the denominator of a formula used to calculate compliance with material financial covenants within the Senior Credit Agreement that govern our ability to incur indebtedness, incur liens, make investments and make restricted payments, among other limitations usual and customary for credit agreements of this type. Accordingly, management believes this metric is a very material metric to our debt and equity investors. Leverage Ratio Denominator gives effect to the revenue and broadcast expenses of all completed acquisitions and divestitures as if they had been acquired or divested, respectively, on October 1, 2023. It also gives effect to certain operating synergies expected from the acquisitions and related financings and adds back professional fees incurred in completing the acquisitions. Certain of the financial information related to the acquisitions, if applicable, has been derived from, and adjusted based on, unaudited, un-reviewed financial information prepared by other entities, which Gray cannot independently verify. We cannot assure you that such financial information would not be materially different if such information were audited or reviewed and no assurances can be provided as to the accuracy of such information, or that our actual results would not differ materially from this financial information if the acquisitions had been completed on the stated date. In addition, the presentation of Leverage Ratio Denominator as determined in the Senior Credit Agreement and the adjustments to such information, including expected synergies, if applicable, resulting from such transactions, may not comply with GAAP or the requirements for pro forma financial information under Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933. Leverage Ratio Denominator, as determined in the Senior Credit Agreement, represents an average amount for the preceding eight quarters then ended.

We define Transaction Related Expenses as incremental expenses incurred specific to acquisitions and divestitures, including but not limited to legal and professional fees, severance and incentive compensation, and contract termination fees. We present certain line items from our selected operating data, net of Transaction Related Expenses, in order to present a more meaningful comparison between periods of our operating expenses and our results of operations.

Our “Adjusted Total Indebtedness”, “First Lien Adjusted Total Indebtedness” and “Secured Adjusted Total Indebtedness” in each case net of all cash, represents the amount of outstanding principal of our long-term debt, plus certain other obligations as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement for the applicable amount of indebtedness.

These non-GAAP terms are not defined in GAAP and our definitions may differ from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting their usefulness. Such terms are used by management in addition to, and in conjunction with, results presented in accordance with GAAP and should be considered as supplements to, and not as substitutes for, net income and cash flows reported in accordance with GAAP.

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